A newly published white paper looks into scenarios through which geochemical carbon dioxide removal (CDR) solutions can help unlock gigaton-level CO2 removal results in the mining industry.
Focused on real-world deployment, the publication synthesizes insights from a collaborative work between WSP, Isometric, and RMI, as well as input from mine operators and technology suppliers.
The mining industry already operates at a scale that only a few industries can match. With established processes in place and an abundance of alkaline materials, the mining sector presents one of the few existing industrial branches that has the capacity to deliver durable CDR at a climate-relevant gigaton scale.
Exploring geochemical CDR mining incorporation opportunities, the white paper considers the key challenges that need to be addressed and the technical and economic feasibility elements that need more attention before going ahead with widespread implementation.
Geochemical CDR solutions are engineered technologies that enhance the chemical reactions between alkaline materials and CO2 which enable the sequestration of this gas from the atmosphere or specific carbon streams.
Pathways like alkalinity enhancement or enhanced mineralization come with a minimal potential for CO2 reversal and have the ability to sequester atmospheric carbon dioxide for extended periods, typically ranging from centuries to millennia.
Intended to serve as a primer for the non-specialist mining professional, the white paper looks into these two approaches as relevant and compatible with the mining industry, going over the different aspects of their potential incorporation into this sector.
Relevant: New Whitepaper Outlines Major CDR Scaling Opportunities Via Industrial Mineralization
In detail, the white paper includes an overview of the current challenges and co-benefits of geochemical CDR approaches, providing a roadmap for the adoption of CDR solutions in mining, as well as a call to action with concrete next steps considered as vital for this journey.
Additionally, the white paper includes five case studies of technology suppliers relevant to the mining sector, including companies such as ZeroEx, Arca Climate Technologies, Exterra Technologies, Travertine Technologies, and Aquarry.
The complete white paper can be downloaded from here.
Read more: Isometric Issues First Protocol For CDR In The Mining Industry
